Andy Burnham will vow to be ‘unashamedly Labour’ when taking charge – as he slams Margaret Thatcher’s legacy

ANDY Burnham will vow to be “unashamedly Labour” as he blasts Margaret Thatcher’s legacy when formally taking charge of his party. The incoming Prime Minister will spell out his plans for turning around the economy and giving power back to communities in a devolution drive. The ex-Greater Manchester mayor will also point to greater public control of utilities and reindustrialisation in his first speech at a special conference where he will be confirmed as Labour leader. But in a blast at the ex-Tory leader, Mr Burnham will say that “Britain took a series of wrong turns in the 1980s” when power was centralised and economic power privatised. He will add that his proposals require a “new path to the one we’ve been on for the last 40 years” as he attempts to drive growth. His remarks echo Gordon Brown’s speech at the 2003 Labour conference when he said Labour is “best when we are boldest. READ MORE ON BURNHAM “Best when we are united. “Best when we are Labour”. Burnham this week told MPs that he wanted “good growth” in every postcode. He vowed to put the cost of living at the forefront of his plans to put more money in people’s pockets. Most read in The Sun But the International Monetary Fund has warned in a report that Britain must be selective on new spending demands. It added that Labour must focus on reducing the deficit.